title: Holistic processing predicts face recognition.
abstract: The concept of holistic processing is a cornerstone of face-recognition research. In the study reported here, we demonstrated that holistic processing predicts face-recognition abilities on the Cambridge Face Memory Test and on a perceptual face-identification task. Our findings validate a large body of work that relies on the assumption that holistic processing is related to face recognition. These findings also reconcile the study of face recognition with the perceptual-expertise work it inspired; such work links holistic processing of objects with people's ability to individuate them. Our results differ from those of a recent study showing no link between holistic processing and face recognition. This discrepancy can be attributed to the use in prior research of a popular but flawed measure of holistic processing. Our findings salvage the central role of holistic processing in face recognition and cast doubt on a subset of the face-perception literature that relies on a problematic measure of holistic processing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, USA. jennifer.j.richler@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Richler
authors.forename: Olivia S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gauthier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003071:Cognition; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D021641:Recognition, Psychology